Entertainment in Tenby

The beaches of Pembrokeshire are the pinnacle of picturesque days out in South Wales. Golden sands, turquoise waters, scenic backdrops, Tenby ticks all the boxes with four beaches perfect for building castles in the shadow of Tenby Castle, soaking up the sun and swimming in Carmarthen Bay.

Harbour Beach is the iconic little beach at the back of the harbour bay. With Tenby’s colourful houses as a backdrop and pretty boats bobbing in the harbour, it’s a pretty picture that makes people fall in love with this corner of the country. It’s especially beautiful at night when the town’s lights are reflected in harbour water.

Our Tenby town centre hotel is just a stone’s throw away from North Beach, the brilliant golden stretch of sand that’s home to Goscar Rock, one of the most photographed spots in all of Wales. The beach commands beautiful views of Carmarthen Bay and proves particularly popular in the summer months, especially as it’s home to Tenby Watersports, which we’ll mention in more detail when we tell you about Tenby sports.

On the other side of the castle peninsula, in the cove between Castle Hill and East Cliff, Castle Beach is a brilliant little stretch of sand. You’ll need to time your visit wisely, as at high tide it can disappear entirely. However, at low tide, you can walk all the way out to St Catherine’s Island. Boats to Caldey Island also depart from Castle Beach. It’s well worth looking into; Tenby Boat Trips is among our top activities in Tenby.

Last but by no means least, South Beach is the award-winning mile and a half of golden sand that stretches from the shores of St Catherine’s Island and runs all the way to Giltar Point. It’s backed by impressive sand dunes, and the ever-popular South Beach Bar and Grill is practically on the sand, giving punters the perfect place to pop in if they get peckish or parched.

For the people who think triathlons sound like something fun, instead of the absolute antithesis bordering on self-prescribed torture, Tenby is home to IRONMAN Wales. With the historic town for a backdrop and a population of passionate supporters, it has established itself as one of the most popular courses on the IRONMAN Calendar. The triathlon begins on North Beach for a spot of swimming. By a spot, we mean 2.4 miles of swimming. Then it’s on to the bike stage, which takes you through the sublime beauty of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for some 111 miles before you come back for a marathon within the medieval town walls of Tenby. If that sounds like your cup of tea, hats off to you.

For those of you, like us, who prefer their sports to be a bit more leisurely, Tenby is the birthplace of Welsh golf. Tenby Golf Club dates back to 1888 and is home to a pristine 18-hole links course that, depending on the weather, will test even the most seasoned of golfers. The wicked wind of the Welsh coast can be a cruel mistress. But no matter how many balls you lose, and we’ve lost many, it’s hard to get moody when the coastal views of South Beach and beyond are so beautiful.

If you want to take to the water, North Beach, next to our Tenby town centre hotel, is home to Tenby Watersports. They have a wide range of activities to choose from. You can go on a jet ski safari to Caldey Island, which – if you’re lucky – will give you the chance to see seals, dolphins and even puffins! You can also take a ride on the hydrofoil, take a kayak out into Carmarthen Bay or get dragged across the surf while riding a doughnut.

If you can, try to time your stay in Tenby to coincide with the Tenby Blues Festival, which takes place over the course of a long weekend in November. Tickets are reasonable, and the festival books a fantastic array of blues artists from around the world. The main venue is the De Valence Pavilion on Upper Frog Street. However, the festival tends to sprawl across much of the town centre. It’s lively and the atmosphere is always fun and friendly; there are few better times to visit Tenby. So enjoy this excellent three-day weekend and warm your soul with world-class blues before winter arrives in full force.